The American Library Association condemns censorship and works to ensure free access to information. Every year, the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The lists are based on information from media stories and voluntary reports sent to OIF from communities across the U.S.
The Top 10 lists are only a snapshot of book challenges. Surveys indicate that 82-97% of book challenges – documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries – remain unreported and receive no media.
Click on the button to open the dropdown menu of Top 10 Most Challenged Books by year.
Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2022
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The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 1,269 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2022. Of the 2,571 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:
- Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged for depiction of sexual abuse, EDI content, and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - Flamer by Mike Curato
Reasons:Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - Looking for Alaska by John Green (tie)
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (tie)
Reasons: Banned and challenged for depiction of sexual abuse, LGBTQIA+ content, drug use, profanity, and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
Reasons: Banned and challenged for depictions of abuse and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (tie)
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - Crank by Ellen Hopkins (tie)
Reasons: Banned and challenged for drug use and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews (tie)
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson (tie)
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, providing sexual education, and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit
Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021
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The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Of the 1,597 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:
- Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images - Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit - All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit - Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit - The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and use of a derogatory term - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women - The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit - This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content. - Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.
Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2020
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The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 156 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2020. Of the 273 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:
- George by Alex Gino
Reasons: Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community” - Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
Reasons: Banned and challenged because of author’s public statements, and because of claims that the book contains “selective storytelling incidents” and does not encompass racism against all people - All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism, and because it was thought to promote anti-police views, contain divisive topics, and be “too much of a sensitive matter right now” - Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint and it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel’s inclusion of rape and profanity - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author - Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
Reasons: Challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote anti-police views - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience - Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students - The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse - The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reasons: Challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message
Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2019
View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2019
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 377 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2019. Of the 566 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:
- George by Alex Gino
Reasons: challenged, banned, restricted, and hidden to avoid controversy; for LGBTQIA+ content and a transgender character; because schools and libraries should not “put books in a child’s hand that require discussion”; for sexual references; and for conflicting with a religious viewpoint and “traditional family structure” - Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
Reasons: challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, for “its effect on any young people who would read it,” and for concerns that it was sexually explicit and biased - A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller
Reasons: challenged and vandalized for LGBTQIA+ content and political viewpoints, for concerns that it is “designed to pollute the morals of its readers,” and for not including a content warning - Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth
Reasons: challenged, banned, and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content; for discussing gender identity and sex education; and for concerns that the title and illustrations were “inappropriate” - Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, illustrated by Stevie Lewis
Reasons: challenged and restricted for featuring a gay marriage and LGBTQIA+ content; for being “a deliberate attempt to indoctrinate young children” with the potential to cause confusion, curiosity, and gender dysphoria; and for conflicting with a religious viewpoint - I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
Reasons: challenged and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content, for a transgender character, and for confronting a topic that is “sensitive, controversial, and politically charged” - The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity and for “vulgarity and sexual overtones” - Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
Reasons: challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and for concerns that it goes against “family values/morals” - Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Reasons: banned and forbidden from discussion for referring to magic and witchcraft, for containing actual curses and spells, and for characters that use “nefarious means” to attain goals - And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson illustrated by Henry Cole
Reason: challenged and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content
Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2018
View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2018
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 347 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2018. Of the 483 books challenged or banned in 2018, the Top 11 Most Challenged Books are:
- George by Alex Gino
Reasons: banned, challenged, and relocated because it was believed to encourage children to clear browser history and change their bodies using hormones, and for mentioning “dirty magazines,” describing male anatomy, “creating confusion,” and including a transgender character - A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ content, and for political and religious viewpoints - Captain Underpants series written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: series was challenged because it was perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior, while Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot was challenged for including a same-sex couple - The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reasons: banned and challenged because it was deemed “anti-cop,” and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references - Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ characters and themes - Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide - This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and certain illustrations - Skippyjon Jones series written and illustrated by Judy Schachner
Reason: challenged for depicting stereotypes of Mexican culture - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: banned and challenged for sexual references, profanity, violence, gambling, and underage drinking, and for its religious viewpoint - This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content - Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content
Top 10 for 2017
View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2017
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 354 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2017. Of the 416 books challenged or banned in 2017, the Top 10 Most Challenged Books are:
- Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher
Originally published in 2007, this New York Times bestseller has resurfaced as a controversial book after Netflix aired a TV series by the same name. This YA novel was challenged and banned in multiple school districts because it discusses suicide. - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie
Consistently challenged since its publication in 2007 for acknowledging issues such as poverty, alcoholism, and sexuality, this National Book Award winner was challenged in school curriculums because of profanity and situations that were deemed sexually explicit. - Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
This Stonewall Honor Award-winning, 2012 graphic novel from an acclaimed cartoonist was challenged and banned in school libraries because it includes LGBT characters and was considered “confusing.” - The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini
This critically acclaimed, multigenerational novel was challenged and banned because it includes sexual violence and was thought to “lead to terrorism” and “promote Islam.” - George written by Alex Gino
Written for elementary-age children, this Lambda Literary Award winner was challenged and banned because it includes a transgender child. - Sex is a Funny Word written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth
This 2015 informational children’s book written by a certified sex educator was challenged because it addresses sex education and is believed to lead children to “want to have sex or ask questions about sex.” - To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, considered an American classic, was challenged and banned because of violence and its use of the N-word. - The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas
Despite winning multiple awards and being the most searched-for book on Goodreads during its debut year, this YA novel was challenged and banned in school libraries and curriculums because it was considered “pervasively vulgar” and because of drug use, profanity, and offensive language. - And Tango Makes Three written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole
Returning after a brief hiatus from the Top Ten Most Challenged list, this ALA Notable Children’s Book, published in 2005, was challenged and labeled because it features a same-sex relationship. - I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
This autobiographical picture book co-written by the 13-year-old protagonist was challenged because it addresses gender identity.
Top 10 for 2016
Out of 323 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2016
- This One Summer written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
Reasons: challenged because it includes LGBT characters, drug use and profanity, and it was considered sexually explicit with mature themes - Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
Reasons: challenged because it includes LGBT characters, was deemed sexually explicit, and was considered to have an offensive political viewpoint - George written by Alex Gino
Reasons: challenged because it includes a transgender child, and the “sexuality was not appropriate at elementary levels” - I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
Reasons: challenged because it portrays a transgender child and because of language, sex education, and offensive viewpoints - Two Boys Kissing written by David Levithan
Reasons: challenged because its cover has an image of two boys kissing, and it was considered to include sexually explicit LGBT content - Looking for Alaska written by John Green
Reasons: challenged for a sexually explicit scene that may lead a student to “sexual experimentation” - Big Hard Sex Criminals written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky
Reason: challenged because it was considered sexually explicit - Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread written by Chuck Palahniuk
Reasons: challenged for profanity, sexual explicitness, and being “disgusting and all around offensive” - Little Bill (series) written by Bill Cosby and and illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood
Reason: challenged because of criminal sexual allegations against the author - Eleanor & Park written by Rainbow Rowell
Reason: challenged for offensive language
Top 10 for 2015
Out of 275 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2015
- Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group - Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James
Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and other (“poorly written,” “concerns that a group of teenagers will want to try it”) - I Am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
Reasons: inaccurate, homosexuality, sex education, religious viewpoint, and unsuited for age group - Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, by Susan Kuklin
Reasons: anti-family, offensive language, homosexuality, sex education, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“wants to remove from collection to ward off complaints”) - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
Reasons: offensive language, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“profanity and atheism”) - The Holy Bible
Reasons: religious viewpoint - Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel
Reasons: violence and other (“graphic images”) - Habibi, by Craig Thompson
Reasons: nudity, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group - Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan, by Jeanette Winter
Reasons: religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group, and violence - Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan
Reasons: homosexuality and other (“condones public displays of affection”)
Top 10 for 2014
Out of 311 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2014
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence. Additional reasons: “depictions of bullying” - Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi
Reasons: gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint. Additional reasons: “politically, racially, and socially offensive,” “graphic depictions” - And Tango Makes Three, Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: anti-family, homosexuality, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “promotes the homosexual agenda” - The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “contains controversial issues” - It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
Reasons: nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group. Additional reasons: “alleges it is child pornography” - Saga, by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Reasons: anti-Family, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group - The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group, violence - The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “date rape and masturbation” - A Stolen Life, Jaycee Dugard
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group - Drama, by Raina Telgemeier
Reason: sexually explicit
Top 10 for 2013
Out of 307 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence - The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James
Reasons: nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group - A Bad Boy Can Be Good for A Girl, by Tanya Lee Stone
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit - Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
Reasons: occult/Satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit - Bone (series), by Jeff Smith
Reason: political viewpoint, racism, violence
Top 10 for 2012
Out of 464 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: offensive language, unsuited for age group - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group - Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group - Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit - And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: homosexuality, unsuited for age group - The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit - Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group - Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: unsuited for age group, violence - The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit - Beloved, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence
Top 10 for 2011
Out of 326 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - The Color of Earth (series), by Kim Dong Hwa
Reasons: nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, insensitivity, offensive language, occult/satanic, violence - My Mom's Having A Baby! A Kid's Month-by-Month Guide to Pregnancy, by Dori Hillestad Butler
Reasons: nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: offensive language, racism, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Reasons: nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoint - Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: insensitivity, nudity, racism, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit - What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones
Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit - Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar
Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit - To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Reasons: offensive language, racism
Top 10 for 2010
Out of 348 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: homosexuality, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: offensive language, racism, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence - Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: insensitivity, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit - Crank, by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit - The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence - Lush, by Natasha Friend
Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones
Reasons: sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich
Reasons: drugs, inaccurate, offensive language, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint - Revolutionary Voices, edited by Amy Sonnie
Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit - Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: religious viewpoint, violence
Top 10 for 2009
Out of 460 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: drugs, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: homosexuality - The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: anti-family, drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group - To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Reasons: offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group - Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence - The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
Top 10 for 2008
Out of 513 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group - His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman
Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, violence - ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, violence - Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, violence - The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group - Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen
Reasons: homosexuality, unsuited to age group - The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper
Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
Top 10 for 2007
Out of 420 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, sexism, unsuited to age group - The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, violence - Olive's Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit - The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
Reason: religious viewpoint - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Reason: racism - The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit - ttyl, by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
Reason: sexually explicit - It's Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
Reasons: sex education, sexually explicit - The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
Top 10 for 2006
Out of 546 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: anti-family, homosexuality, unsuited to age group - Gossip Girls (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar
Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group - Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Reasons: offensive language and sexually explicit - The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: anti-family, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: insensitivity, occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence - Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language - The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - Beloved, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, violence
Top 10 for 2005
Out of 405 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health, by Robie H. Harris
Reasons: abortion, homosexuality, nudity, religious viewpoint, sex education, unsuited to age group - Forever, by Judy Blume
Reasons: offensive language, sexual content - The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger
Reasons: sexual content, offensive language, unsuited to age group - The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: sexual content, offensive language - Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher
Reasons: racism, offensive language - Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds
Reason: sexual content - What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones
Reasons: sexual content, being unsuited to age group - Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: anti-family content, unsuited to age group, violence - Crazy Lady!, by Jane Leslie Conly
Reason: offensive language - It's So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families, by Robie H. Harris
Reasons: sex education, sexual content
Top 10 for 2004
Out of 547 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence - Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
Reasons: offensive language, racism, violence - Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture, by Michael A. Bellesiles
Reasons: inaccurate, political viewpoint - Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit - The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit - What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones
Reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group, sexually explicit - In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit - King & King, by Linda deHaan
Reason: homosexuality - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
Reasons: offensive language, racism, violence
Top 10 for 2003
Out of 458 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Reasons: sexual content, offensive language, unsuited to age group - Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
Reasons: occult/Satanism - Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
Reason: offensive language - Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture, by Michael Bellesiles
Reason: inaccuracy - Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
Reason: drugs, offensive language, racism, sexual content, violence - Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
Reason: drugs - It's Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
Reasons: homosexuality, nudity, sexual content, sex education - We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: offensive language, sexual content - King & King, by Linda de Haan
Reason: homosexuality - Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
Reasons: occult/Satanism, offensive language
Top 10 for 2002
Out of 515 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling
Reasons: occult/Satanism, violence - Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence - Taming the Star Runner, by S.E. Hinton
Reason: offensive language - Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Reason: offensive language - Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
Reasons: occult/Satanism, offensive language, violence - Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor
Reason: offensive language - Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
Reasons: unsuited to age group, violence
Top 10 for 2001
Out of 448 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling
Reasons: anti-family, occult/Satanism, religious viewpoint, violence - Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
Reasons: offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group, violence - The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit - Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene
Reasons: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit - The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
Reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group - Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit - Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
Reason: offensive language - Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause
Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
Background Information from 2000 to 2009
View the 2000-2009 book challenge infographic
From 2000 to 2009, 5,099* challenges were reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom.
- 1,577 challenges due to "sexually explicit" material
- 1,291 challenges due to "offensive language"
- 989 challenges due to materials deemed "unsuited to age group"
- 619 challenged due to "violence"'
- 361 challenges due to "homosexuality"
Further, 274 materials were challenged due to "occult" or "Satanic" themes, an additional 291 were challenged due to their "religious viewpoint," and 119 because they were "anti-family."
Please note that the number of challenges and the number of reasons for those challenges do not match because works are often challenged on more than one ground.
1,639 of these challenges were in school libraries; 1,811 were in classrooms; 1,217 took place in public libraries. There were 114 challenges to materials used in college classes, and 30 to academic libraries. There are isolated cases of challenges to library materials made available in or by prisons, special libraries, community groups, and students.
The vast majority of challenges were initiated by parents (2,535), with patrons and administrators to follow (516 and 489 respectively).
* We receive challenge reports after the Top Ten lists have been published. This number reflects all the challenges we received since July 31, 2013 for the 2000-2009 time period.
Before 1990
OIF has only been collecting data about banned books since 1990, so we do not have any lists of frequently challenged books or authors before that date.